Five years ago, almost 250,000 people were killed by one of the worst natural disasters of the modern epoch, the tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Today, citizens are memorializing those who were lost and pointing to the fact that many villagers are still homeless or without proper housing. — JCL

The Guardian:

Countries across the Indian Ocean are today solemnly marking the fifth anniversary of the tsunami that killed almost 250,000 people.

In Indonesia’s Aceh province, where more than 166,000 died, thousands held prayers in public mosques and private homes. On Thai beaches, Buddhist monks in saffron robes chanted prayers as mourners held pictures of loved ones lost on Boxing Day five years ago.

Hundreds of tourists returned to Phuket to mark one of the worst natural disasters of modern times.

A moment of silence was observed on Patong Beach in Phuket to mark the moment the tsunami struck.

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